Chevrolet Beat

Without a doubt, the best and the sportiest looking hatchback under the Rs 5 lakh bracket comes from Chevrolet in the form of the Beat. It is the most radical, sharp and modern looking small hatchback out there in the market and surely gets attention wherever it is seen. The rear door handles are concealed very well, giving the side profile a coupe like look. The funky and fun element of the Beat gets carried over to the insides as well. Design is modern and the semi-digital speedometer console looks ultra-stylish as well. The top end variants get an automatic climate control system, something that is a rarity under the Rs 5 lakh bracket. Space is good and overall comfort level high. The ice-blue illumination for the controls at night adds to the whole bling factor.

The Beat recently got an updated form of its 1.2-litre engine called the SMARTECH engine. This engine has better levels of smoothness, low end punch and refinement. The Beat’s 1.2-litre engine scores well on fuel economy though performance could have been better, especially at low engine speeds. Its ride quality is also on par with the rivals and handling sufficient for the power it develops. A diesel engine for the Beat is expected soon and that should further bump up its sales figures considerably. UPDATE: Diesel model launched at Rs 4.29 lakh in July 2011

The petrol Beat is offered in six different trim levels including two LPG ones. With LPG, the running cost of the vehicle does come down considerably. The Beat is also offered with a 3 year / 45,000km cashless ownership experience and best in class warranty of 3 years / 1,00,000km.

Expert Speak: Looks great, is comfortable and has a mouth watering sticker price. The diesel unit is worth waiting for!